Simmba Review – Boisterous

Simmba (2018)

Movie Rating:

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[Total: 2 Average: 3/5]

Directed By: Rohit Shetty

Cast: Ranveer Singh, Sonu Sood, Ashutosh Rana, Sara Ali Khan

Language: Hindi

Simmba is a spin-off of the Singham franchise in which the protagonist plays the antihero. The movie is loosely based on the Telugu super-hit movie Temper. Directed by Rohit Shetty, Simmba has an entertaining first half and goes right off the cliff post interval. The movie is colorful and boisterous with great dialogues- typical of a Bollywood masala movie.

Sangram “Simmba” Bhalerao (Ranveer Singh) is an orphan who steals for a living. Growing up he realizes that being a police officer is the key to all the power and the money he so aspires for. Hence, he becomes one- with a reputation of being an absolute corrupt cop among his peers. He is transferred from Shivgad to Miramar, a hotbed of criminal activities. Miramar is ruled by a local don, Durva Ranade (Sonu Sood) and his brothers with an iron fist. Simmba doesn’t meddle with Durva’s activities and in turn gets a payoff from him. All is well till a Nirbhaya like case happens, shatters his world and transforms him. How he punishes the criminals is the rest of the movie you should watch.

Simmba is a carefree cop with pizzazz, whose only aim in life is to earn money. He doesn’t care about his reputation. Our guy enjoys life; sets up fake criminals to woo his girl; clears lands for criminals by harassing commoners. He is a Munnabhai in police uniform going completely against Bajiro Singham’s integrity seen in the previous movies. Simmba powers the first half by keeping you entertained with his antics and comedy. The role is tailor made for Ranveer- his own personality oozes into Simmba- with all the ebullience and the swag. Ranveer Singh is our desi Ryan Reynolds and Simmba is to Ranveeer what Deadpool was to Ryan.

The movie has glaring flaws. First of all there are three entirely different Simmbas in the movie. The kid Simmba and Ranveer are totally different personalities. And Ranveer post interval after the transformation is unbearable. The moment the charm goes off and the crying ensues the soul of Simmba gets slaughtered. Rohit Shetty has killed the essence of Simmba in order to show a transformation.

Another flaw is the reveal in the first scene. It took off the impact of the retribution carried out after interval. Also the process of retribution is slow and dragging. Rohit Shetty wastes momentum by making Simmba ask the same question repeatedly to 5 different women when we all know what the answer would be. Also in a scene Ranveer talks to Ajay Devgan (in a cameo role) about how he is his idol when clearly in the entire first half he was shown to be a corrupt cop. Also, the dialogues when not being flashy, massy one- liners are preachy and essay- like. Its like Rohit Shetty’s characters can only express emotions in speeches.

The movie has some interesting choice of actors who have done well in their limited screen time. Ashutosh Rana holds his own as the head constable Nityanand Mohile. His scenes with Ranveer are too good. He is an honest cop who like an elder brother is always cynical about Simmba’s corrupt ways. Watch out for the scene when they drink together. Sara Ali Khan has screen presence and potential- she needs to work with directors who can groom her like Alia Bhatt.

Rohit Shetty has stitched an incoherent movie; music is good but the background score is loud. Watch it once for Ranveer’s performance and share your rating above.